TRAMS IN A FLAT TOWN.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 400, 8 January 1909, Page 6

TRAMS IN A FLAT TOWN.

.■;'.f;\(BI:,,TILI!GEArK4:SI',ECIAL. COREESPOHDENT.)' , ir, . cfiristohurch, ' January. 7. , ' : Mr. 1 A;' W. ■Beayeh,':'who. retired' to-day -ftom 'the, :chairmariship ~ of the. Tramway. ■Board','. *'irij 1 addressing j theboard,;; said that -;th'4 , wq'rkipg ;! of'- tho ; .twelve months - had , "cqriviriced;'him' .that' the: 'alterations in; the. fares ■ .'to ' icqricession' ticliet-holders made; in ''May la'st'had"Heeii"on' right'-lines.-': They had number';of people -;using ; the:-tr'aiusj~ McausO : thoy " had reduced the fates'for residents-to'the lowest'possible: iridped, than'in: any other Aus- 1 . tralasian' 'trbii^iiy''.''system. ■ These rates,"how-; .qver}' : wcre,:'suclv as left, a loss on tho ordinary (oye^day;,work, in ' bringing residents.- of 1 the ! .6ubUrbs -.'• irito'; tSs;'city;' and ; . returning them ■to their' Thoy hafl seerij however,' that .this" loss- : hadr during 'the:, last two years,been' mado"? iij) ? by: profit l fTom'. holiday traffic, ;but : : he';.wbuld;.:remirid the. .board . that; this. ;traffiO|y.^th-''iia : -<cbnseaiient. profit,; was : en(ti'rdy :;depende'rit v - upon' weatoer conditions. iGivenfa'-wetv'carriival or : wet Christmas ,treek; •^f;t)OTtd'ByMaiii6& ! .'.if6iild' be much disar-' ariged. Ho Would;/therefore, suggest that, if tho: year showed a 'clear profit 'as appealed sto .bd ;noW'Ppssible, a' special -sum be*carried forward for'no?:!; year-to meat tho possible' loss''of reveritio referred to. ;■ ;- . :

Thn continual increase in the cost of the, upkbepi oC'tiie .'electric carstmust. bo watched, and provision-ought, to, bo made for longer intervals of for overhauling. Some new [large rcars; must:.'bo' obtained, aa tbeVpresent "eightwheekd' stock '.had to be - kept running itoo "constantly -for efficient examination and overhaul. • . ; > 7

■ He had evfiry hope that, when, the year's j •figures' .wore; tr.ncle up,the/passengers- carried 1 per oar per ic;lo i'S.9 as against Wellington's' and; Dimedip'B. f-;8). ;.woidd,v«riiig. to. the 1 fin-' creasei .roncessioh iiek'ets, be brought : .of the other 'population per, mile ;of single track :Vas so small (namely; 1400, as. ■against an .averagn.'. of Auckland. Wellington, and Dymediir 0f;3720), 1 the'public could not. joxpe'ct more' frequent services, 1 lower fares, ;or larger' when, it- was 'b.orngiti.imrid thaV-m Christchuroh, more thaji Vpne oit:ofweryithrce of tho 'population owned ia' bicycle. They; might.!flatter themselves that: itfo; - inanageineiii' .;itf the : .Christfchurch Trami wayswas. good; to have made - lindor the cir- ! 'on'the undertaking, after interest,'', sinking fund,' and building up, the nPCCKsary ! depreciations. . They had increased iheir..revenue from the fourteen' /days' holidays between November 2 and '. January .2 'by- £1000, as compared with last year; and ;the A board -might with advantage •give/the: traffic 'department' more plant' ■ for ;this. phase of the work; ■ ,